Marie Valentine Mayer, a respected magistrate, is stepping down after three years of service. Her departure, scheduled for July, has elicited various reactions.
Despite her discreet nature, she has not hesitated to make tough decisions, earning the respect of her peers.
Known for her professionalism and independent thinking, she has handled several high-profile cases.
Magistrate Marie Valentine Mayer of the Port Louis court has submitted her resignation. Her departure is planned for July 2024.
For now, she is focused on wrapping up the cases entrusted to her. “Personal and professional reasons” are cited for her decision, including the fact that she may have decided to move to the private sector.
Marie Valentine Mayer is well liked by her colleagues. She was sworn in as a magistrate on June 1, 2021.
Her departure after three years in the judiciary is being discussed in the corridors of justice.
She has had an exceptional career as a jurist. In November 2013, she was admitted to the bar of England and Wales at the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
She also did a stint at the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for her “pupillage”.
On September 25, 2015, she was admitted to the Mauritian bar. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in politics and international relations.
During her time as a lawyer, she worked at ENSafrica (Mauritius), the Mauritian branch of a pan-African law firm.
She then specialized in civil litigation and dispute resolution. She also has extensive experience appearing before various judicial bodies, including statutory courts.
Her main areas of practice are competition law, labor law, and environmental law.
In terms of experience in environmental law, she appeared before the Environment Land Use and Appeal Tribunal.
Before the tribunal, she successfully represented a hotels and restaurants association in an appeal against the granting of an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) permit for a fish farming project.
She also regularly assisted and advised developers during the permit application process. During her time as a lawyer, Marie Valentine Mayer also taught environmental law for the “LLM International Business Law” program.
She taught this module from 2016. She also taught the “Communication Skills” module for the LLB program in 2019 and 2020. Professionalism and integrity.
On June 1, 2021, she left the private sector to join the judiciary. She began her career as a magistrate at the Rose-Hill court.
The respected magistrate Marie Valentine Mayer, known for her professionalism and independence, is making headlines as she prepares to leave her post at the Port Louis court after handling a series of high-profile cases.
Among the cases she presided over include Louis Dominique Seedeeal, also known as Darren, Vimen Sabapati, former Chief Executive Officer of Mauritius Telecom Sherry Singh, and the Sugar Insurance Fund Board case.
Throughout her tenure, Marie Valentine Mayer has been praised for her fearlessness in making tough decisions and speaking her mind.
Her name has frequently appeared in the press for her involvement in these high-profile cases. Despite facing criticism from some, others admire her for her honesty and integrity.
While she may come across as gentle and kind, she is not afraid to make difficult decisions when necessary.
Described as discreet, courteous, dynamic, rigorous, and firm in court proceedings, Marie Valentine Mayer’s departure has come as a surprise to many in the legal community.
Her reputation for being fair and strict in her judgments has garnered both admiration and respect.
Some of the cases she presided over:
On November 9, 2022, Louis Dominique Seedeeal, also known as Darren, was granted bail at the Port Louis court by Marie Valentine Mayer. He paid a bail amount of Rs 3,000 and signed a debt acknowledgment of Rs 25,000.
On May 25, 2023, the provisional money laundering charge against Kritanand Balaghee was dropped by Marie Valentine Mayer due to delays in formal charges being brought forward.
The 56-year-old surveyor had been arrested on August 21, 2020, accused of receiving a check for Rs 4,033,333 in connection with an alleged fraud at the Sugar Insurance Fund Board.
On September 26, 2023, Vimen Sabapati was granted bail by Marie Valentine Mayer, with conditions including two bail amounts of Rs 400,000 each and a debt acknowledgment of Rs 6 million.
Sabapati, facing drug trafficking and money laundering charges, must report to the police station near his home twice a day and observe a curfew from 8 pm to 5 am, with no contact with witnesses.
On March 28, 2024, the provisional money laundering conspiracy charge against 44-year-old Deyendranath Persand was dropped by Marie Valentine Mayer due to lack of reasonable suspicion in the Rs 18 million copper seizure investigation. She was critical about the handling of the case by the Special Striking Team.
Source: Defi Media
